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Residents urge council to scrutinize Cumberland aggregate mine proposal and support saving Lizard Mountain land
Summary
Speakers at the Eden Plus council meeting urged the city to review King County materials on a proposed Cumberland aggregate mine and asphalt plant — warning of decades‑long extraction, 24/7 operations, heavy truck traffic and large water use — and asked the city to support preserving roughly 990 acres north of Cumberland (Lizard Mountain).
Multiple residents addressed the Eden Plus City Council on July 13 about proposed large‑scale projects near Cumberland and the need to protect open land.
Julius Stevens, who said he lives in unincorporated King County outside Enumclaw, asked the council to review King County’s project documents on a proposed Cumberland aggregate mine and asphalt plant. "They're looking at 25 to 35 years of removing gravel from the area," Stevens said, warning the operation would run 24 hours a day and could put "hundreds" of heavy trucks into local traffic patterns. He also told the council the proposal lists anticipated water use "of 175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day," and urged residents to file comments with King County before the Aug. 7 deadline; he left materials with the city clerk for council review.
Linda Stevens told the council she supports saving about 990 acres north of Cumberland, around Lizard Mountain, for public access and to protect wells and watershed functions. "This is a beautiful piece of property," she said, describing local trails, river access and recreational uses for older residents and families. She said county and state entities have indicated some interest in acquisition.
Council members did not take formal action during the public‑comment period but the speakers explicitly asked the council to review and, where appropriate, comment on county materials and to assess opportunities for land preservation or interjurisdictional coordination.
The meeting materials and comments indicate King County’s public comment window for the project is open through Aug. 7; residents seeking to influence county permitting were advised to submit comments to King County and to contact the city clerk for more information.
